2019 High School Essay Contest

2019 High School Essay Contest

Wisconsin high school students posed for a photo with their arms raised in an apparent Nazi salute. School officials did not discipline them, citing the students’ First Amendment protections. Was that the correct decision?

The student newspaper at Har-Ber High School in Springdale, AR, was censored by school administrators after an investigative report on the transfer of six football players to a rival school. Administrators later allowed the report to be republished but insist they should have prior approval of all articles. Should student newspapers be subject to prior administrative approval?

The University of California, Berkeley, recently settled a lawsuit that claimed discrimination against conservative speakers. Should universities be able to impose fees and security requirements because certain speakers attract crowds and even protests?

Rules

Essays must be at least 400 words but no more than 600 words and emailed no later than March 29, 2019, to cfogessay@aol.com. Essays should include the student’s full name, school, grade and teacher email contact information. Winners will be announced by May 15, 2019.

The First Amendment Works for You

Denver police agree to First Amendment training in settlement with Indy editor they wrongfully detained Denver’s Police Department has agreed to a $50,000 settlement with Colorado Independent Editor Susan Greene, whose First Amendment rights officers violated when they wrongfully handcuffed and detained her for photographing police last summer. As part of the settlement, Denver agrees to significantly strengthen First […]

NFOIC urges independence for Oregon's Public Records Advocate For Immediate Release (09/12/2019) Contact: Daniel Bevarly Executive Director, NFOIC dbevarly@nfoic.org 352-294-7082 McCallOpen, accessible and accountable government with freedom to public information without interference from governing bodies — or elected officials — is essential to our democratic republic. But that fundamental value may be at stake […]

Email Transparency Efforts Backfire in Gainesville, Fla. (TNS) — GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Mayor Lauren Poe and other city officials in this college town spent part of their day on July 18 exchanging emails about proposed development projects, replying to resident complaints, discussing changes to local laws and more. Anyone with an Internet connection could follow […]

Guest columnist: KRS offers troubling excuse for lack of transparency on investment contracts It is deeply disturbing that a public agency — whose compliance with state transparency laws is found by the Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts to fall “drastically short” — concludes its response to the auditor’s examination with the statement that it “compl[ies] […]